Looked at a used Blaze King Princesse... Have some questions

[Archer39]

The stove was not installed so I was able to get a good look at both sides of the bypass and this was my main concern. When I first tried to move the bypass handle it was stuck. After a good amount of force and pushing up bypass door I broke it free. After I got it free there was a good amount of binding in the handle and took a lot of force to move it. The new stove I looked at a dealer the handle moved freely. Is this normal once the stove is used?

Also, the gasket around the bypass is this suppose to be a rope gasket like around the door? The gasket was completely flat and all but gone. Is this the right gasket?

I did not even make a offer on the stove because of these things. Did I make the right move?

 

[aansorge]

The gaskets tend to flatten, this is normal. The bypass being hard to move? I would get a flash light, stick it down inside the exhaust hole and look around. Could be a little something jammed in these. It is a pretty simple design.

 

[jeff_t]

Yeah, there isn't much to it. If everthing is straight, they are pretty easy to fix.

The bypass gasket flattens out from use. That sounds normal. How about the frame it sits in? That warps pretty easy if it gets too hot. Easy to weld in new pieces, though.

It's gonna need a new cat if the bypass didn't get used.

Take another look, if the price is right. Take some pics if you have anything to question.

 

[ddddddden]

I'm not intimately familiar with BK, but I'd be a lil' worried about possible warpage of the bypass door/frame. Send a msg to BKVP for the last word on it.

 

[jeff_t]

The bypass is kept in place by two stamped metal pieces, that are kept in place by the cat (yep). It is operated by a cam action, with the rod, that the handle turns, sliding thru a clip welded on the bypass. This is likely gunked up from non-use, and should be much smoother when cleaned up. It was probably just stuck to the gasket at first.

The bypass and the opening around it are about 1/2" thick. If there is any warping there, the rest of the stove would be a puddle.

 

[Archer39]

I could not see any warping around the bypass or any other part of the stove. But while looking in from the side where the handle of the bypass goes into the stove there was a nut that the rod of the handle went though and it appeared to be rounded off and nicked up. This kinda worried me because it seams as though someone tried to take it apart or something.

I opened and closed the bypass 20-25 times and it did not free up at all. It went smooth for a inch or two then bounded up then got free again at the top.

Yeah, there isn't much to it. If everthing is straight, they are pretty easy to fix.

The bypass gasket flattens out from use. That sounds normal. How about the frame it sits in? That warps pretty easy if it gets too hot. Easy to weld in new pieces, though.

It's gonna need a new cat if the bypass didn't get used.

Take another look, if the price is right. Take some pics if you have anything to question.

They would not take less than 2500 and there was no way I was paying that on a stove I thought had issues.

How does the bypass gasket stay in place? I there suppose to be a channel it sits in like the door?

 

[jeff_t]

They would not take less than 2500 and there was no way I was paying that on a stove I thought had issues.

How does the bypass gasket stay in place? I there suppose to be a channel it sits in like the door?

That's crazy.

Yep, the gasket is glued in, just like a door.

 

[Archer39]

That's crazy.

Yep, the gasket is glued in, just like a door.

So there is suppose to be a Channel the gasket sits in?

 

[rdust]

They would not take less than 2500 and there was no way I was paying that on a stove I thought had issues.

That is absolutely nuts! Walk away and don't give it another thought....

 

[jeff_t]

So there is suppose to be a Channel the gasket sits in?

Yes. It's a frame with a little lip on it, welded to the bottom of the opening. After the rope flattens out, it may be hard to tell. It looks like a flat gasket around the opening.

 

[PapaDave]

If you're set on the Princess, save a few more bucks, then buy a new one.
That price seems unreasonable to me.

 

[aansorge]

They want too much. Buy new! Or wait for a killer deal like I got....

 

[Archer39]

That's the plan. All the dealers are within 100 bucks of each other right around 3300.

 

[weatherguy]

I agree with the others, way to high for a used, I thought the princesses were about $2,700-2,800?

 

[rdust]

They want too much. Buy new! Or wait for a killer deal like I got....

x2!

I stole my Princess and I know Jeff got a killer deal on his King. I found mine from a stove shop that had it listed on craigslist. It a floor model that was never burned in.(Ultra, brass door, fans) They were remodeling the floor and they wanted it gone, I paid 1200 for it, I think Jeff paid mid 2K for his King. Where Jeff got his there were 2 Kings I'd have the other one if I had an 8" chimney.(another member, WildBill? bought it)

Moral of the story is there are good deals to be found with time and patience.

 

[aansorge]

(broken link removed to http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/app/3993528794.html)

I wonder if this one comes with the chimney? Worth a call.

 

[aansorge]

King model...(broken link removed to http://erie.craigslist.org/app/4083987669.html)

 

[Archer39]

unfortunately I need an insert due to size of the fireplace. Otherwise I would take a look at those.

 

[jeff_t]

unfortunately I need an insert due to size of the fireplace. Otherwise I would take a look at those.

Didn't know you were looking at an insert. Anything I said above may or may not be true. I have never seen a princess insert.